, 1887-12-01
ANOTHFR BLAZE.
The Fire Department Prevent n Disas-
trous COuHngratiOn.

trous conflagrstion. 1t was about four
o'clock, when the alarm was given, and al
most instantly the cry Of "fire" was sound
ing in all quarters Of the city, aud the
streets were filled with fremen rushing to
their posts of duty. The fire started in the
small frame house of VIM. j. Rountree on
Main street, and thither the crowd hurried.
The building is surrounded by wooden
structures, in the rear being large stables.
| 1t looked as If their doom was sealed and n
number of men at once fastened to get out
| the horses, of which there werea large num-
| ber; while Others managed to carry to
| place oi safety, considerable of the personal
| property of the unfortunate family.
| Both hose companies and the hook and
ladder men started promptly, No. is were
| first on the ground as they had but u few
| yards to run, but when they tried to break
! "a coupling, they found, much to their dis
gust, that all the couplings were frozen up
| solid, and it was impossible To start them
even with the aid of a spauner. In cJuse-
quence they were Obliged To unreel the
whole six hundred feet OF hose on their cart,
| this operation compelling them to run
nearly to the Catholic church, aud then to
| whirl around and bring back the nozzle to
the burning building
Two also got an excellent start, and
| while their rivals were struggling with the
frozen couplings they uhsueu UP ltlVerslue
avenue and, very quickly laying u line OF
hose turned on the first stream of water,
| and opened the battle with the flames.
| BY this time No bad got back to the
| scene of action aud turned on a powerful
stream through u hole in the side of the
| building. Meanwhile u second line of hose
| had been laid by No. ., and in IA moment
| three powerful streams were PLAYING upon
| the flames, completely flooding the prem-
ises In very short time the fire ON the
outside began to die out, but still ragged
hOtly IN the interior. Now ii was that the
Tigers showed what they we're made of,
and rendered valuable service by tearing
large oriiices in the trnHt and rear of the
structure, through which u perfect deluge
of water was thrown,
II was at this moment that some one
started the report that boy was still in the
house, and at once thrill of horror ran
through the crowd, which was quckcued
by the shOut of an excited individual that
he saw the child at window. At this
news the hremeE redOuDled their efforts for
a few moments, but the report was proLipt-
ly denied, and people breathcd easier.
Ii was now evident that the flames were
under control, and their extinction only "a
matter of few moments, yet the crowd
still fingered till thorough investigation
was made, which proved that no one had
met death in the flames.
At the time the fire started the entire IA
mily consisting of Mr.. and Mrs. Rountree
and nine children Of all ages, were i'm the
building, One of the boys was sick in bed
and it was in regard to his safety that the
anxiety wrs felt. One Of the girls states
| that the first intimation she had of the fire
was shout from the street, and moment
later the flames and smoke burst into the
room where she was standing.
Although quite good deal OF furniture
and several trunks were saved. the loss will
be a heavy one for the afflicted family, a.
| 1t is understood that they had no insurance
upontheir property. They have been taken
| in charge by Kind neighbors and will be
| provided with food and shelter until IL new
| house can be secured.
The fire is supposed to have caught from
| q fiue running from the stove in the back
room, as it was first seen breaking out
around the chimney.
NOTES.
The department is in need OF more hose.
Everybody spoke complimentary of the
| excellent performance Of the department.
No. 9 had on the first steam although Is
house is only block from where the fire
broke out.
| The usual mob collected, and the custo-
| mary number of curiosity seekers took "
| spray bath.
| Barring accidents at the water work
| 1t would be difficult for fire to get beyond
control in this city.
Two's boys had an experience with n
frozen nozzle but managed to get two
streams on in great shape.
Only those who got wet have any idea OF
how cold the water Is just at present. The
air WAS pretty comfortably icy, too.
| No. rs had two streams on the building
from the rear. With is stream on the
| front the house was full of water in no
| time.
Mr.. Ronntree's loss while not large in
dollars and cents, is total, and he can lily
afford IT, He Is deserving of aid from the
public.
Had the fire occurred in the night those
sleeping upstairs would have burnt to death,
as the only stairway was In the very midst
of the flames.
Two small fires handwriting will proba-
bly, be followed by u third one that will
give the boys trouble. 1t has occurred
that way before.
gave his orders with n coolness and iudg-
mcnt that contributed largely to keeping
he fire within narrow bounds.
The fire is supposed to have caught from
n defective ilue. The cold weather requires
hot fires and If great caution is not eXer-
cised other fires will occur from the same
source.
The crowd took hold and hustled the
furniture ont of adjacent houses and horse.
ont of the stables, expecting, of course, to
sec the flames sweep the block, but they
didn't sweep.
The hook and ladder rendered efficient
service. Now IL is seen what an assistance
IA rig of the kind is in extinguishng fires,
people wonder how the department ever
got along without it.
The fire broke out in u nest of frame
buildings and as the flames swept high
above the roofs people thought there was
to be dandy conhagration, but in five
minutes after water was turned on the
flames we're checked and In fifteen minutes
not spark was remaining.
II fires are 10 occur frequently this winter
it will be necessary to have o fire in the
hose house at all times In order to keep
] the hose In order for service. 1t IL danger.